Can I occasionally eat ice cream with reflux esophagitis?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can occasionally eat ice cream. However, it is advisable for those with GERD to eat less high-fat food and avoid alcohol, strong tea, coffee, chocolate, etc. It is recommended to eat small, frequent meals and avoid overeating. Consuming fresh vegetables and fruits is encouraged, but patients should not have a heavy dinner or lie down immediately after eating. After taking medicine, it’s beneficial to stand and move around. Patients should maintain a regular diet, adhere to their medication schedule, and undergo regular endoscopic check-ups. Generally, GERD is not very severe.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can people with reflux esophagitis eat sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes can increase the secretion of stomach acid, and it is not recommended for those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to consume sweet potatoes. GERD is a type of gastroesophageal reflux disease that refers to the damage to the esophageal mucosa caused by the reflux of acid or alkali. During an endoscopy, defects in the esophageal mucosa, or ulcers, can be observed. GERD is graded based on the size of these ulcers and the extent of erosion, with four levels of severity. The larger the damage, the higher the grade, indicating a more severe case of GERD. Therefore, those with GERD must be cautious about their diet. It is essential to quit smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid strong tea and coffee, and try not to consume foods that are rich, greasy, fried, spicy, or grilled. Foods like milk, soy milk, glutinous rice, and sweet potatoes, which can increase the secretion of stomach acid, are also not recommended. Thus, it is advised that people with GERD avoid consuming sweet potatoes.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What foods are good for gastroesophageal reflux disease?

For reflux esophagitis, it is recommended to have an easily digestible diet and avoid smoking and drinking. One should not consume strong tea, coffee, fatty, greasy, spicy, fried, grilled, cold, or sweet foods. It is also advised against consuming milk, soy milk, glutinous rice, sweet potatoes, etc., as these foods may promote gastric acid secretion, leading to further irritation of the esophageal mucosa and worsening reflux esophagitis. Some are also difficult to digest, so it is recommended to avoid them. You can consume porridge, such as lean meat porridge, chicken porridge, fish porridge, etc.; or soups, such as chicken soup, pork rib soup, etc.; you can also eat noodles. When eating meat, remember to cook it until it's very soft, and it is also advised to increase physical activity.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease

The symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux esophagitis are quite typical and include a range of symptoms. The most typical symptom is heartburn, primarily referring to a burning discomfort or pain felt behind the sternum or beneath the xiphoid process, usually occurring about an hour after eating, often accompanied by nausea. Another common symptom is acid regurgitation, which tends to occur more frequently on an empty stomach. Additional symptoms include chest pain, mainly due to the irritation of the esophageal mucosa by refluxed digestive juices, causing esophageal spasm and resultant pain. Difficulty swallowing is also a common symptom, initially mainly due to stress-induced spasms leading to swallowing difficulties. In later stages, it is often due to the proliferation of fibrous tissue forming scars that cause esophageal narrowing, resulting in swallowing difficulties. Other common symptoms include bloating, pharyngitis, cough, asthma, and more.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Which severity level of reflux esophagitis is "abcd"?

Reflux esophagitis is divided into four grades: ABCD, with grade A being the least severe and grade D being the most severe. Grade D indicates that the esophageal mucosa shows damage and fusion, involving at least 75% of the esophageal circumference. The symptoms of reflux esophagitis mainly include reflux and a burning sensation in the stomach, and some patients may also experience heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Reflux esophagitis can occur during nighttime sleep in some patients and is caused by the chemical irritation of sensory nerve endings beneath the esophageal epithelium due to acidic or alkaline reflux material.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of reflux esophagitis?

The main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease include upper abdominal pain, chest pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting. A gastroscopy can reveal lesions on the esophageal mucosa, and if such damage is observed, a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease can be made. The severity of the lesions on the esophageal mucosa can be classified into four grades: A, B, C, and D, with grade A being the mildest and grade D the most severe. Treatment primarily involves acid suppression, promoting gastric motility, and repairing the mucosa. The treatment course usually lasts about six to eight weeks. Moreover, gastroesophageal reflux disease is closely related to poor gastric motility, so regular exercise is recommended. Exercise can enhance gastric motility and promote intestinal peristalsis, which plays a positive role in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.